Mobile track leveling and ballast tamping machine

ABSTRACT

A track leveling and tamping machine has a plurality of tamping units whose distance from each other may be changed. Each tamping unit is mounted on a respective machine frame or frame portion which are pivotally coupled together, and a track lifting mechanism is mounted on the frame. At least one running gear mounting the frame or frame portions on the track rails is arranged between each two spaced apart tamping units, and each trailing tamping unit is arranged between a respective pair of the running gears. A reference system controls the leveling of the track.

United States Patent 91 Plasser etal.

[ MOBILE TRACK LEVELING AND BALLAST TAMPING MACHINE [76] Inventors: Franz Plasser; Josef Theurer, both of Johannesgasse 3, Vienna, Austria [22] Filed: Apr. 7, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 132,049

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 17, 1970 Austria 3536 [52] US. Cl. 104/12, 104/7 R, 104/8, 254/43 [51] Int. Cl E01b 27/16 [58] Field of Search 254/43, 44; 104/7 R, 1 I 104/7 A, 8,12, 7, 8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,494,297 2/ 1970 Plasser et a1. 104/7 B 3,504,635 4/1970 Stewart et a] 104/12 3,479,964 11/1969 Plasser et a1 104/12 3,381,626 /1968 Fagan et al. 104/12 [45] July 10, 1973 3,134,339 5/1964 Plasser et a1. 3,380,395 4/1968 Plasser et 3,401,642 9/1968 Fisher 3,212,451 10/1965 Doorley. et a1. 12/1969 Plasser et a1. 104/7 R Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch Attorney-Kurt Kelman [57] ABSTRACT tween a respective pair of the running gears. A reference system controls the leveling of the track.

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74' 72 75 7/ H 74 Ff-7'zfi- 7 F I l 25 t 5' 9d A3 x3 73 7d d 0 b 4 85 I 7e /7a .82 2b Zoe 9e 9e MA/0925 INVEN-TORS 7 FRHNZ- PLHSSER MOBILE TRACK LEVELING AND BALLAST TAMPING MACHINE The present invention relates to improvements in a mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus having a plurality of running gears mounting the apparatus frame means on the two track rails mounted on ties resting on the ballast to move the apparatus on the rails in a working direction.

Known apparatus of this type comprises a plurality of tamping means arranged for tamping at least two of the ties and spaced from each other in the working direction, the apparatus having a foremost one of the ballast tamping means, in respect of the working direction, and at least one trailing ballast tamping means. Each ballast tamping means is mounted on a vertically adjustable tamping means carrier to form a unit of preferably vibratory tamping tools. Drive means is provided for changing the distance between the ballast tamping means in the working direction relative to each other. An apparatus frame means has the tamping means carriers with their tamping means and a track lifting mechanisrri mounted thereon, and a plurality of running gears mount the apparatus frame means on the track rails, and a reference system, which may move with the apparatus, controls the leveling of thetrack.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,366, dated Dec. 12, 1967, and No. 3,372,651, dated Mar. 12, 1968, disclose tamping units with tamping tools so arranged as to enable each unit to tamp two immediately adjacent ties simultaneously. With this appratus, successive track sections of equal length may be subjected to a continuously proceeding track maintenance operation including grading, possibly lining and tamping. The simultaneous work on two adjacent ties in continuous succession produces a much smoother track level than successive work on single ties, as effectuated by prior tamping units. The use of such twin tamping units does not only make it possible to advance the machine from work station to work station by a larger distance but the irregular crib widths along the track may also be taken into consideration with such apparatus so that it has proven to be an outstanding success in track maintenance and renewal work.

Further improvements have been provided in U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,395, dated Apr. 30, 1968, wherein drive means is coupled to a series of tamping units for changing the distance between the units relative to each other and/or of all the units relative to the frame on which they are mounted. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,448,692, dated June 10, 1969, a method has been proposed for so arranging a series of spaced apart tamping units that groups of ties are tamped simultaneously at each working station while the machine advances by equal distances from station to station so as to assure the uniform working of relatively long track sections.

Thus, it is known to advance a track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus continuously from work station to work station while working on more than one tie at each station, which is particularly important because of increasingly heavier traffic and correspondingly shorter intervals between trains wherein the track maintenance work has to be effected. This heavy traffic, furthermore, subjects the track to ever increasing loads, making the accuracy of the track level and alignment as well as the durability thereof of-correspondinglyincreasing importance.

It has become ever more difficult to cope with these requirements in the operation of track working machines provided with a plurality of spaced apart tamping units, taking into account particularly the increasing number of tamping tools, their arrangement and cooperation, and the synchronization of the various work stages, such as machine advance, grading, lining, if required, and tamping, so as to obtain as smooth and uniform an operation as possible while maintaining the accuracy as well as the durability of the corrected track position.

It is the primary object of provide a mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of this type which overcomes these difficulties and various disadvantages of the known machines, and which meets the above requirements so as to produce an accurate and long-lasting track while considerably increasing the efficiency of the work at the same time as its quality is improved, particularly as far as the uniformity of ballast compaction and leveling of the track is concerned.

The above and other objects are accomplished in accordance with this invention with an apparatus of the initially described type which comprises frame means having two pivotally coupled frame portions. A respective one of the tamping means carriers with their tamping means is mounted on respective ones of the frame means portions. According to the invention, a plurality of running gears mount the apparatus frame means on the track rails, at least one of the running gears being arranged between each two of the spaced apart tamping means, and each of the trailing tamping means being arranged between a respective pair of the running gears.

This structural arrangement has been derived from the concept that the various work stages, such as tamping, track lifting and leveling, at each of the tamping units in this type of machine must be carried out at least partially independently of each other to avoid disadvantageous effects on the end result. In the arrangement of the invention, the track section on which each trailing tamping unit works is held down and thus controlled by a pair of running gears intennediate of which each trailing tamping unit is mounted, independently of the foremost tamping unit. In this manner, the work of each tamping unit and associated track leveling proceeds independently. In addition, the arrangement of the running gears intermediate the tamping units provides an optimum track level control because each working station defined by the respective tamping units is pinned down by the load testing on the running gears, all of which assures a most accurate and, at the same time, durable track correction.

The structural arrangement of the present invention may be used to advantage with various types of tamping units. More particularly, the foremost and/or thetrailing tamping units may comprise pairs of tamping tools arranged for reciprocation in the'working direction for tamping a tie positioned between the tools of each pair for tamping a single tie, or twin pairs for simultaneously tamping two adjacent ties. I

According to a preferred feature of this invention, wherein the apparatus is arranged to advance continuously in the working direction between successive tamping stations by a distance sufficient to permit the tamping means to tamp every tie once, the foremost tamping means with its carrier is positionable a disthe present invention to,

tance substantially equal to this distance of advance from the running gear between the foremost tamping means and the adjacently trailing tamping means. This has the advantage that the intermediate running gear during the continuous advance of the apparatus always rests on previously graded and tamped tiesv In accordance with another preferred feature of the invention, the track lifting mechanism is mounted adjacent, preferably in front of the foremost ballast tamping means, a track lining mechanism is combined with the track lifting mechanism, and another track leveling means is mounted acjacent a trailing ballast tamping.

means. This other track leveling means may be a track lifting device or a track holding device controlling the lifting stroke of the track during tamping. With the latter arrangement, the track in the trailing working station is leveled simply by the tamping of the ballast which forces the track rails up until they are held against further rising by the track holding device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the reference system comprises a track level surveying station, such as a track measuring carriage fixedly positionable in respect of the track, in the range of, or at, the running gear arranged between the pair of spaced apart ballast tamping means. This provides a most accurate reference for the leveling operation effectuated with a machine having a succession of tamping units since this gives fixed reference points in previously graded track sections. If the reference is positioned in a yet uncorrected section of the track, any errors in the position of the track is transferred into the new grade which, after all, is established in reference thereto.

A variety of modifications may be incorporated in the apparatus. For instance, while a common reference system may be used, the reference system may also comprise a separate reference means associated with each ballast tamping means. Each such reference means has a front and rear end, and it is useful for the rear end of the reference means associated with the foremost tamping means and the front end of the reference means associated with the immediately trailing tamping means to be positioned substantially in a single plane extending transversely and vertically to the track.

Known drive means as well as novel means may be used for changing the distance between the ballast tamping means. Advantageously, a drive, such as a hydraulic motor, may be provided for moving the ballast tamping means trailing the foremost tamping means in respect of the foremost tamping means in the working direction. This drive may be provided between the respective tamping means carriers or the respective apparatus frame means portions wherein the carriers are mounted. Preferably, means is provided for adjusting the distance of the movement of the trailing ballast tamping means in respect of the foremost tamping means to at least the known maximum distance between the ties of the track. This makes it possible to adjust the tamping units to different crib widths after the foremost tamping unit has been properly centered for tamping a tie or ties.

It has also been found advantageous to mount a device, such as a paint spraying instrument, in the range of the foremost tamping unit for marking the ties to be tamped by the trailing tamping unit or units. This is particularly effective if each trailing tamping unit has its own operator. In an automated machine, means will be provided for controlling the advance of the apparatus in the working direction and for thus controlling the position of at least the formost tamping unit. The .control means is associated with each ballast tamping unit whose position is to be controlled thereby, and each controlling means includes an odometer, a pulse emitting track sensor operatively connected thereto, and a pulse receiving indicator connected to the sensor to receive the control pulses therefrom. The indicator preferably includes means for automatically controlling the position of at least the foremost tamping unit.

To assure a continuously compacted ballast bed and to secure the leveled and possible aligned track in the corrected position, it is very useful to associate surface tamping means with each tie tamping means for tamping the ballast in the cribs between the ties as well as the ballast bed shoulders laterally outside the ends of the ties. Preferably, the surface tampers are adjustably positionable in the working direction.

It will be advantageous for the effective operation of the apparatus to provide a central operating stand for the operation of all movable means of the apparatus, such as the reciprocation as well as the vertical adjustment of the tamping tools, the operating movements of the surface tampers, and the track lifting and, where provided, lining mechanism. A central power source, such as a hydraulic fluid reservoir, is used to effectuate all these operations, a hydraulic circuit being connected to all the movable means where the operation is hydraulic.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description of certain now preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. -1;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates two rows of ties of different crib width, the tamped ties being cross hatched, as in FIG. 1; v

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the track level in the track section whereon the apparatus of FIG. 1 is mounted, FIG. 4 showing the working stations at the two tamping units of the apparatus before the ties have been tamped there and FIG. 5 showing these working stations after the ties have been tamped; and 4 FIGS. 6 to 10 are simplified and schematic side elevational views of the other embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention.

Referring now to the drawing and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a track leveling andballast tamping apparatus 1 which comprises an apparatus frame means having a front frame means portion 4 and a rear frame means portion 8, the two frame portions 4 and 8 being pivotally coupled to each other at 5. The pivot joint 5 provides a vertical fulcrum axis about which the two frame portions may be pivoted in respect to each other. A plurality of running gears mount the apparatus frame means on track rails 26, the illustrated running gears comprising front and rear axles2 and 3 of front frame portion 4, and front and rear axles 6 and 7 of rear frame portion 8. The front axle 6 of the rear frame portion and the rear axle 3 of tthe front frame portion constitute an intermediate running gear 9 for the apparatus frame means.

The front frame portion has a framework 12 which vertically adjustably supports a tamping means carrier 11 for the foremost tamping means of the apparatus. A track lifting mechanism 14 combined with a track lining mechanism 13 is mounted on the frame portion 4 in front-of the formost tamping unit 10. This combined track lifting and lining mechanism comprises rail gripping rollers engaging each rail. The. carrier for each rail gripping roller unit is vertically movably mounted on a guide post 16, and hydraulic motors l6 and 17 are connected to the roller units for moving the same vertically and laterally, respectively, for lifting and lining.

The reference system controlling the levelling of the track includes the reference means 19 which includes an infrared reference beam associated with the tamping unit 10 and the track leveling mechanism 14.

The rear frame portion also has a framework 22 which vertically adjustably supports a tamping means carrier 21 for the trailing tamping means of the apparatus.'A track holding device 23 is mounted on the frame portion 8 in front of the trailing tamping unit 20. This holding device comprises rollers pressing upon the rails under the control of a hydraulic motor 23 which vertically adjusts the level of the rollers so as to determine tthe lifting stroke of the track during tamping of ballast 30 by tamping unit 20. The track 27 comprises two rails 26 mounted on ties resting on the ballast.

A hydraulic motor 28 is arranged to drive the framework 22 and thus the trailing tamping unit 20 in the working direction relative to the frame portions and foremost tamping unit 10. 4

As shown, the reference system of the apparatus includes a separate reference means 29 for tamping unit 20 and track holding device 23, 24 which includes a tensioned wire.

As will be appreciated, since the trailing tamping unit 20 is movable in relation to the foremost tamping unit 10 in the working direction, the trailing unit may be centered properly over a tie or ties to be tamped thereby after the foremost unit has been so centered by the advance of the apparatus from a preceding working station. As shown in FIG. 3, the crib width or distance between adjacent ties often varies considerably along the track section on which the apparatus works, even the average crib width of about 20 to 35 inches often differing widely. According to a preferred feature of the invention, the distance by which tamping unit 20 may be moved in the working direction is adjustable to the known maximum width X of the cribs.

The tamping units 10 and 20 are so-called twin tampers for simultaneously tamping adjacent ties 25' centered between pairs of reciprocable tamping tools, such as shown in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,366. A common tamping tool vibrating drive 31 and hydraulic reciprocating motor 32 unite all the tamping tools of each unit into a mechanically integral structure.

The apparatus proceeds from working station to working station in a working direction indicated by arrow 33. The foremost tamping unit 10 is spaced from the intermediate running gear 9 (measured center point to center point) a distance A4 which corresponds to the distance X4 by which the apparatus advances from station to station. As shown in FIG. 1, the distance X4 may encompass a total of five successive ties defining between them four successive cribs. As the apparatus advances from station to station, two adjacent ties are first left untamped by unit 10 to be tamped subsequently by unit 20 in the continuously progressing operation of the apparatus.

The separate reference means 19 for the front oper tem, a central beam emitter 36' is similarly mounted on the measuring carraige.

The infrared reference beams are projected on beam receivers 38 mounted on vertical support rods on measuring carriage 37 mounted at the intermediate running gear 9, i.e. centered between axles 3 and 6. Each reference beam is associated with, i.e. vertically above, a respective track rail 26, and the reference means end constituted by receivers 38 thus always rests on a previously graded and tamped track section, thus providing an accurate reference. A masking board 39 is mounted at the tamping unit 10 in the path of each reference beam, each masking board being mounted on a vertically adjustable support rod resting on the track 27. The desired level of the track in respect of the reference beams is indicated when the masking board interrupts the beam, i.e. moves into the path thereof.

The other reference means 29 for the trailing operat ing unit of the apparatus comprises, associated with each rail, a pair of pulley s 41, 41 respectively mounted on the vertical rod which also supports the receivers 38 and a vertical rod on measuring carriage 40 arranged rearwardly of tamping unit 20. A tensioned reference wire 42 is trained over each pair of pulleys. The vertical rods again extend through respective guide bores in the frame portions 4 and 8, respectively, to permit vertical movement of the end points of the tensioned reference wire 42. A wire support or contact element 43 is mounted at the tamping unit 20 in alignment with each wire and for contact therewith, each element 43 being mounted on a support rod resting on track 27. The desired level of the track in respect of the reference wires is indicated when the element 43 contacts the wire. The raising of the element to grade level may be accomplished simply by the tamping operation at this station which automatically moves the track 27 upwardly against the downward pressure of device 24, the element 43 moving up with the track on which it rests as the compaction of the ballast exerts an upward pressure not exceeding the downward pressure of device 24. When these pressures are balanced, further track movement will stop, the lifting stroke being controlled by the control of tthe downward pressure. If desired, of course, thedevice 24 may be a track lifting mechanism similar to that of mechanism 14.

.Since the rear end of front reference means 19 and the front end of rear reference means 29 lie in the same plane extending transversely and vertically to the track and since the substantially uniform intermittent advancing distance X4 of the apparatus remains the same, the reference point in respect of which the track is leveled at each working station is constituted by a previously graded and tamping track section, which assures the accuracy of the track correction, particularly since these reference points are held in a substantially fixed position by the axles 3, 6 of running gear 9, on the one hand, and running gear 7 of the trailing frame portion 8, on the other hand. More particularly, this arrangement prevents the reference points used for the leveling operation from being brought into an incorrect position by a subsequent raising of a track section during the apparatus advance. This advantage is ffurther assured by maintaining the spacing A4 between the foremost tamping unit and intermediate running gear 9 the same as the intermittent apparatus advancing distance X-4.

FIG. 3 shows, in two rows, ties spaced by different distances, the tamped ties 25 being cross hatched while the ties 25' are still to be tamped. The upper row of ties shows a tie spacing like that illustrated in FIG. 1. Comparing this with the wider spacing of the lower row of ties, it indicates that the machine operates with the same accuracy over long track sections regardless of the crib widths since the track measuring carriages will be positioned in the previously graded track section with any tie spacing.

FIG. 4 shows schematically (and with some exaggeration) the uneven level of the track before the ties 25' (FIG. 1) have been graded and tamped by tamping units 10 and 20. Arrows illustrate the key elements of the operation, the axles 7 (rear running gear), 6, 3 (intermediate running gear) and 2 (front running gear), with their load or downward pressure exerted upon the track, being indicated by arrows 7, 6, 3' and 2'. The lifting force exerted by track lifting mechanism 14 is indicated by arrows 14' while the holding force exerted by track holding mechanism 24 is indicated by arrows 24'. the upwardly extending counterforce exerted by tamping unit is shown by arrows 24".

The effect of raising and tamping the ties 25' is shown in FIG. 5, the operation of the two tamping units being preferably carried out simultaneously. It will be appreciated that the leveling of the track proceeds continuously from left to right, as seen in FIG. 5, the accuracy of the track correction being assured at all points over long track sections because each individusl working station operates under ideal conditions, with the intermediate running gear 9 assuring a fixed reference at this point at all times.

The apparatus of FIG. 1 and 2 also can be used for track lining, for which purpose it is equipped with a lining reference system of a known type, including two reference wires 44 and 45 cooperating with track measuring carriages 35, 37, 40 and a further measuring carriage 46, all of which may be hydraulically pressed against the selected grade rail to establish fixed and accurate reference points. The lining motor 18 is controlled by this reference system in a conventional manner.

The accuracy of the track correction operation will be further improved, particularly where long track sections are involved, by providing a first laser beam reference plane 47 parallel to the plane of the track and a second laser beam reference plane 47' perpendicular to the track plane and extending in the same direction, plane 47 serving to control the leveling and plane 47 being used to control the alignment of the track. Laser beam emitter 48, which produces the laser beam reference planes, is mounted on a front carriage 49, the vertical and the lateral position of the laser beam emitter on the carriage being adjustable. As is more fully described and claimed in copending application Ser. No. 3762, tiled Jan. 19, 1970, the laser beam reference planes may be used to position the front end 35 of the reference means 19 and of the long reference wire 45, which is of particular value in long track sections to assure the accuracy of the track correction.

The intermittent advance of the apparatus from working station to working station by the distance X4 as well as the proper relative positioning of the two spaced apart tamping units 10 and 20 are controlled in a known manner. For this purpose, a track sensor 50 is mounted on front frame portion 4 of the apparatus and a further track sensor 51 is mounted on movable framework 22 which carries the tamping unit 20. Each sensor is constituted as a pulse generating and emitting device and is connected to a respective odometer 50', 51 and a central indicator or control instrument 52 receiving the pulses from the sensors for indicating or controlling the advance of the apparatus and any movement of framework 22 in response to the emitted pulses.

Furthermore, it is convenient to arrange a tie marking device in the range of the foremost tamping unit 10, the illustrated tie marking device being a paint spraying implement for marking the ties 25' to be tamped by the trailing tamping unit 20. This readily indicates the ties 25' to be tamped to the operator.

Further automatic adjustments of the distance between tamping units 10 and 20, particularly during the tamping operation, are possible through control 54 for the hydraulic motor 28 for moving the tamping unit 20 into a properly centered position over the ties to be tamped thereby, this control also being responsive to the pulses received from sensors 50 and 51.

The corrected ballast bed grade is further fixed by the provision of surface tampers 56 for compacting the ballast in the cribs, this surface tamping means being adjustably positionable in the working direction by hydraulic motor 55 and being mounted rearwardly of each or at least the trailing tie tamping unit. Furthermore, surface tampers 57 for compacting the shoulders of the ballast bed laterally of the tie ends are mounted laterally adjacent tthe crib tampers as well as laterally adjacent the intermediate running gear 9.

The quality of the tie tamping is improved by hydraulically operating the tamping tool pairs of both tie tamping units 10 and 20 asynchronously, as is well known. The operation of all movable means of the apparatus is controlled from a central operating stand 59 and a central power source is provided for effectuating this operation. In the illustrated embodiments, this cen-' tral power source is a hydraulic fluid reservoir 58 and a hydraulic conduit circuit connects this reservoir to the movable means, such s the hydraulic motors for operating the tamping tools of tie tamping units 10 and 20, for moving the track lifting, lining and holding mechanisms 14 and 24, for actuating the surface tampers 56 and 57, for vertically adjusting the reference means 19 and 29 as well as the laser beam reference planes, and for moving the tamping unit 20 lengthwise. Independent of this centrally operated hydraulic circuit for the operation of the entire apparatus, the apparatus frame portion 8, which runs on axles 6 and 7, may be uncoupled from the front frame portion 4 and then constitute a self-propelled tamping unit operated by power source 60.

The embodiments of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 10 are in many respects similar in structure and function to the above-described embodiment. To avoid redundancy, equivalent elements in all embodiments have been designated with the same reference numeral, the respective modifications in these figures being indicated by adding the letters a to c to the respective reference numeral.

Thus, in FIG. 6, a very simple apparatus with two tamping units 100 and 20a is shown, eachtamping unit having a group of only one pair of reciprocating tamping tools designed to tamp a single tie centered between the tools of each pair. Also, the intermediate running gear 9a is constituted by a single axle. The apparatus comprises a front frame portion 62 running on axles 2a and 9a and a trailing frame portion 62 whose rear end runs on axle 7a, the front end thereof being pivotally coupled to the front frame portion. The trailing tie tamping unit 20a is mounted in framework 220 which is longitudinally movable by hydraulic motor 28a, the spacing between the tie tamping units being further adjustable by hydraulic motor 65 which longitudinally adjustably connects the two frame portions 62 and 64. The magnitude of the longitudinal adjustablility of trailing tie tamping unit 20a, i.e. the strokes of the hydraulic motors 28a and 65, may be adjusted to the maximum differences of tie spacings and the maximum average crib width, respectively. The distance A2 between the foremost tie tamping unit a and the intermediate running gear 9a is substantially the same as the distance X2 of the intermittent advance of the apparatus between working stations.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the intermediate running gear 9b is constituted by a truck to which the front end of the rear frame portion and the rear end of the front frame portion of the apparatus are pivotally coupled so that the intermediate running gear constitutes a swivel truck for the apparatus frame means. It will be noted that both axles of the swivel truck rest on a previously graded and tamped tie 25 at each working station during the advance of the apparatus. A common reference system 66 for the entire apparatus includes a ten- I sioned reference wire anchored to one end point above rear axle 7b which rests on a graded tie and another and point in the uncorrected track section. Each tie tamping unit 10b and b consists of two independent groups of reciprocating tamping tools for tamping single ties, the groups being relatively movable in respect to each other in the working direction of the apparatus to assure proper centering of each group. Here again, the distance A4 of each group of tamping tools of the foremost tamping unit 10b from a respect axle of intermediate running gear 9b corresponds to the distance X4 of advance of the apparatus between working stations.

The machine of FIG. 8 has a foremost tamping unit 10c constituted by a twin tamper designed to tamp two adjacent ties simultaneously while the trailing tamping unit 20c is a tamper consisting of a group of only one pair of tamping tools for tamping a single tie. The rear frame portion 67 of the apparatus is longitudinally adjustably coupled to the front frame portion 69 by a hydraulic motor 65a so that the spacing between the two tie tamping units in the working direction may be varied, each tamping unit being mounted on the respective frame portion fixed against movement in this direction. In this embodiment, the intermediate running gear 9c is constituted by the rear axle of the front frame portion 69. The distance A3 between the foremost tamping unit 10c and the intermediate running gear 9c corresponds to the distance X3 of advance of the apparatus between working stations, which corresponds to three crib widths.

This embodiment is particularly useful where each of the frame portions can operate as an independent track leveling and tamping machine, simply by uncoupling the hydraulic motor connecting them. When the two machines are coupled together to form the apparatus shown in FIG. 8, a longitudinally movable surface crib tamper 70 may be used, this tamper having a series of surface tamping tools spaced from each other for simultaneously tamping three adjacent cribs.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the foremost tie tamping unit 10d is a single tamper while the trailing tie tamping unit 20d is a twin tamper which is mounted movably in the working direction on the apparatus frame portion 72 while the unit 10d is mounted on front frame portion 71. The frame portion 71 is supported for pivotal movement on frame portion 72, overchanging the track section tamped by tamping unit 10d. The entire apparatus runs on rear and front axles 7d, 9d supporting the rear frame portion 72, the front axle 9d constituting the intermediate running gear between the two tie tamping units. Again, the distance A3 between the foremost tamping unit 10d and the intermediate running gear 9d corresponds to the distance X3 of the apparatus advancement between working stations.

The reference system comprises a self-propelled front carriage 73 whereon reference beam emitter 74 is mountedto project a reference beam to receiver 75 mounted above intermediate running gear 9d, another reference beam emitter 74' mounted above the rear axle 7d standing on a graded and tamped tie also prov jecting a reference beam to the receiver 75.

The embodiment of FIG. 10 is a modification of the apparatus of FIG. 1, except that the two frame portions run independently on respective front and rear axles, rear frame portion 78 being supported on axles 7e and 9e, and the front frame portion being supported on axles 9e and 2b. The trailing tie tamping unit 202 is supported on framework 22b which is longitudinally movable on frame portion 78 by hydraulic motor 28b. The two frame portions are longitudinally adjustably coupled together by hydraulic motor 65b. Two like track lifting and lining mechanisms 17a, are respectively as sociated with each of the tie tamping units.

The reference system comprises reference beam emitters and 85' projecting reference beams to receivers 84 and 84', respectively, the receivers forming a reference point which always rests on a graded and tamped track section 83.

This embodiment of the apparatus is particularly useful for laying track on a new ballast bed. In this case, each tie is preferably tamped twice, which is accomplished by moving the track sensor 82 to a position which reduces the normal advancement distance X4 of the apparatus to half this distance X2. Since the distance A4 between the foremost tamping unit 10e and the reference point 83 remains intact, this reference point always is at a previously tamped tie.

It will be obvious from the above description that the apparatus of the present invention may be modified in a great variety of ways, all types of reference systems being useful in such apparatus, as only schematically indicated in the drawing since such reference systems are well known and the specific type of reference system used forms no part of this invention. All that is required according to the invention is the provision of a reference point in the range of the intermediate running gear which always rests on a previously graded and tamped track section and/or the provision of track measuring carriages at such previously graded and tamped track sections to assure tthe accuracy of the track correction.

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus, the track comprising two rails mounted on ties resting on the ballast and the apparatus being arranged for movement on the rails in a working direction, the apparatus comprising 1. a plurality of ballast tamping means arranged for tamping at least two of said ties and spaced from .each other in the working direction,

a. the apparatus having a foremost one of the ballast tamping means, in respect of the working direction, and at least one trailing one of the ballast tamping means;

2. a vertically adjustable tamping means carrier for each of the ballast tamping means;

3. means for changing the distance between the ballast tamping means in the working direction relative to each other;

4. an apparatus frame means having two pivotally coupled frame means portions,

b. a respective one of the tamping means carriers with their tamping means being mounted on respective ones of the frame means portions;

5. a track lifting mechanism mounted on the frame means;

6. a plurality of running gears mounting the apparatus frame means on the track rails,

c. at least one of the running gears being arranged between each two of the spaced apart tamping means, and

d. each of the trailing tamping means being ar ranged between a respective pair of the running gears; and

7. a reference system for controlling the leveling of the track.

2. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a track lining mechanism mounted on the frame means.

3. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein each ballast tamping means consists of a unit of vibratory tamping tools, at least one of the units comprising pairs of tamping tools arranged for reciprocation in the working direction for tamping a tie positioned between the tools of each pair.

4. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is arranged to'advance continuously in the working direction between successive tamping stations by a distance sufficient to permit said tamping means to tamp every tie once, and the foremost tamping means with its carrier being positionable a distance substantially equal to said distance from the running gear between the foremost tamping means and the adjacently trailing tamping means.

5. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatusof claim 1, wherein the track lifting mechanism is mounted adjacent the foremost ballast tamping means, a track lining mechanism is combined with said track lifting mechanism, and a track leveling means is mounted adjacent a trailing one of the ballast tamping means.

6. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 5, wherein the track lifting mechanism combined with the track lining mechanism is mounted in front of the foremost ballast tamping means in re spect of the working direction.

7. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 5, wherein the track leveling means is a track holding device controlling the lifting stroke of the track during tamping.

8. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reference system comprises a track level surveying station in the range of the running gear arranged between the pair of spaced apart ballast tamping means.

9. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 8, wherein the track level surveying station is arranged at said running gear.

10. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 8, wherein the track level surveying station comprises a track measuring carriage fixedly positionable in respect of thetrack.

1 l. The mobiletrack leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for changing the the foremost ballast tamping means in respect of the' foremost tamping means in the working direction.

12. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 11, wherein the drive is a hydraulic motor.

13. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for adjusting the distance of the movement of the trailing ballast tamping means in respect of the foremost tamping means to at least the maximum distance between the ties of the track.

14. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping ap paratus of claim 11, further comprising a drive control means operatively connected to the drive for automatically positioning the spaced apart tamping means at a controlled distance from each oother in the working direction.

15. Themobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 11, wherein the drive is arranged on the frame means portion whereon the trailing ballast tamping means is mounted to move the carrier of the trailing ballast tamping means, the carrier of the foremost ballast tamping means being arranged on the associated frame means portion fixed against longitudinal movement.

16. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a surface tamping means associated with each of the first-mentioned ballast tamping means for tamping the ballast in the cribs between the ties, each surface tamping means being adjustably positionable in the working direction.

17. The mobile track leveling and ballasttamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a surface tamping means arranged between the first-mentioned ballast tamping means for tamping the ballast along the shoulders of the ballast bed laterally outside tthe ends of the ties.

18. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the frame means portions constitutes an independent frame mounting one of the ballast tamping means, a track leveling means and a reference means for controlling the leveling of the track, the independent frames being releasably coupled to each other, and comprising an independent drive for each of the independent frames.

19. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a central operating stand for the operation of all movable means of the apparatus and a central power source for effectuating said operation.

20. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 19, wherein the central power source is a hydraulic fluid reservoir and circuit connected to all the movable means.

21. A mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus, the track comprising two rails mounted on ties resting on the ballast and the apparatus being arranged for movement on the rails in a working direction, the apparatus comprising 1. a plurality of ballast tamping means arranged for tamping at least two of said ties and spaced from each other in the working direction,

a. the apparatus having a foremost one of the ballast tamping means, in respect of the working direction, and at least one trailing one of the ballast tamping means;

2. a vertically adjustable tamping means carrier for each of the ballast tamping means;

3. means for changing the distance between the bal- ,last tamping means in the working direction relative to each other;

4. an apparatus frame means having two pivotally coupled frame means portions;

b. a respective one of the tamping means carriers with their tamping means being mounted on respective ones of the frame means portions;

5. a track lifting mechanism mounted on the frame means;

6. a plurality of running gears mounting the apparatus framemeans on the track rails,

c. at least one of the running gears being arranged .between each two of the spaced apart tamping means, and

d. each of the trailing tamping means being arranged between a respective pair of the running gears; and

7. a reference system for controlling the leveling of the track, the reference system comprising e. aseparate reference means associated with each of the ballast tamping means, each reference means having a front and a rear end in respect of the working direction, the rear end of the reference means associated with the foremost tamping means and the front end of the reference means associated with the immediately trailing tamping means being positioned substantially in a single plane extending transversely and vertically to the track.

22. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 21, wherein the reference means associated with the foremost tamping means comprises a reference beam of radiated energy and the reference means associated with the immediatedly trailing tamping means comprises a reference body.

23. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 22, wherein the reference body is a tensioned wire.

24. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 22, wherein the reference body is a rigid portion of the apparatus frame means.

25. The mobile-track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 21, wherein each of the separate reference means comprises radiated energy emitter means, radiated energy receiver means and a reference beam of said radiated energy between the emitter and receiver means, the reference system further comprises a track measuring carriage fixedly positionable in respect of the track in the range of the running gear' arranged between the pair of spaced apart ballast tamping means, the radiated energy emitter and receiver means constituting respective ends of each of the separate reference means, and one of the ends of each of the reference means being mounted on the track measuring carriage.

26. A mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus, the track comprising two rails mounted on ties resting on the ballast and the apparatus being arranged for movement on the rails in a working direction, the apparatus comprising 1. a plurality of ballast tamping means arranged for tamping at least two of said ties and spaced'from each other in the working direction,

a. the apparatus having a foremost one of the ballast tamping means, in respect of tthe'working direction, and at least one trailing one of the ballast tamping means;

2. a vertically adjustable tamping means carrier for each of the ballast tamping means; i

3. means for changing the distancebetw een the ballast tamping means in the working direction relative to each other;

4. an apparatus frame means having two pivotally coupled frame means portions, I b. a respective one of the tamping means carriers with their tamping means being mounted on respective ones of the frame means portions;

5. a track lifting mechanism mounted on the frame means;

6. a plurality of running gears mounting the apparatus frame means on the track rails, c. at least one of the running gears being arranged between each two of the spaced apart tamping means, and

d. each of the trailing tamping means being arranged between a respective pair of the running gears;

7. a reference system for controlling the leveling of the track; and

8. means for controlling the advance of the apparatus in theworkingdirection and for .thus controlling the position of at least the foremost ballast tamping means,

e. the controlling means being associated with each of the ballast tamping means whose position is to be controlled thereby, and

f. each controlling means including an odometer, a

pulse emitting track sensor operatively connected thereto, and a pulse receiving indicator connected to the sensor to receive control pulses therefrom.

27. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 26, wherein the indicator includes means for automatically controlling the position of at least the foremost ballast tamping means. 

1. A mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus, the track comprising two rails mounted on ties resting on the ballast and the apparatus being arranged for movement on the rails in a working direction, the apparatus comprising
 1. a plurality of ballast tamping means arranged for tamping at least two of said ties and spaced from each other in the working direction, a. the apparatus having a foremost one of the ballast tamping means, in respect of the working direction, and at least one trailing one of the ballast tamping means;
 2. a vertically adjustable tamping means carrier for each of the ballast tamping means;
 3. means for changing the distance between the ballast tamping means in the working direction relative to each other;
 4. an apparatus frame means having two pivotally coupled frame means portions, b. a respective one of the tamping means carriers with their tamping means being mounted on respective ones of the frame means portions;
 5. a track lifting mechanism mounted on the frame means;
 6. a plurality of running gears mounting the apparatus frame means on the track rails, c. at least one of the running gears being arranged between each two of the spaced apart tamping means, and d. each of the trailing tamping means being arranged between a respective pair of the running gears; and
 7. a reference system for controlling the leveling of the track.
 2. a vertically adjustable tamping means carrier for each of the ballast tamping means;
 2. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a track lining mechanism mounted on the frame means.
 2. a vertically adjustable tamping means carrier for each of the ballast tamping means;
 2. a vertically adjustable tamping means carrier for each of the ballast tamping means;
 3. means for changing the distance between the ballast tamping means in the working direction relative to each other;
 3. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein each ballast tamping means consists of a unit of vibratory tamping tools, at least one of the units comprising pairs of tamping tools arranged for reciprocation in the working direction for tamping a tie positioned between the tools of each pair.
 3. means for changing the distance between the ballast tamping means in the working direction relative to each other;
 3. means for changing the distance between the ballast tamping means in the working direction relative to each other;
 4. an apparatus frame means having two pivotally coupled frame means portions, b. a respective one of the tamping means carriers with their tamping means being mounted on respective ones of the frame means portions;
 4. an apparatus frame means having two pivotally coupled frame means portions, b. a respective one of the tamping means carriers with their tamping means being mounted on respective ones of the frame means portions;
 4. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is arranged to advance continuously in the working direction between successive tamping stations by a distance sufficient to permit said tamping means to tamp every tie once, and the foremost tamping means with its carrier being positionable a distance substantially equal to said distance from the running gear between the foremost tamping means and the adjacently trailing tamping means.
 4. an apparatus frame means having two pivotally coupled frame means portions; b. a respective one of the tamping means carriers with their tamping means being mounted on respective ones of the frame means portions;
 5. a track lifting mechanism mounted on the frame means;
 5. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the track lifting mechanism is mounted adjacent the foremost ballast tamping means, a track lining mechanism is combined with said track lifting mechanism, and a track leveling means is mounted adjacent a trailing one of the ballast tamping means.
 5. a track lifting mechanism mounted on the frame means;
 5. a track lifting mechanism mounted on the frame means;
 6. a plurality of running gears mounting the apparatus frame means on the track rails, c. at least one of the running gearS being arranged between each two of the spaced apart tamping means, and d. each of the trailing tamping means being arranged between a respective pair of the running gears;
 6. a plurality of running gears mounting the apparatus frame means on the track rails, c. at least one of the running gears being arranged between each two of the spaced apart tamping means, and d. each of the trailing tamping means being arranged between a respective pair of the running gears; and
 6. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 5, wherein the track lifting mechanism combined with the track lining mechanism is mounted in front of the foremost ballast tamping means in respect of the workiNg direction.
 6. a plurality of running gears mounting the apparatus frame means on the track rails, c. at least one of the running gears being arranged between each two of the spaced apart tamping means, and d. each of the trailing tamping means being arranged between a respective pair of the running gears; and
 7. a reference system for controlling the leveling of the track, the reference system comprising e. a separate reference means associated with each of the ballast tamping means, each reference means having a front and a rear end in respect of the working direction, the rear end of the reference means associated with the foremost tamping means and the front end of the reference means associated with the immediately trailing tamping means being positioned substantially in a single plane extending transversely and vertically to the track.
 7. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 5, wherein the track leveling means is a track holding device controlling the lifting stroke of the track during tamping.
 7. a reference system for controlling the leveling of the track.
 7. a reference system for controlling the leveling of the track; and
 8. means for controlling the advance of the apparatus in the working direction and for thus controlling the position of at least the foremost ballast tamping means, e. the controlling means being associated with each of the ballast tamping means whose position is to be controlled thereby, and f. each controlling means including an odometer, a pulse emitting track sensor operatively connected thereto, and a pulse receiving indicator connected to the sensor to receive control pulses therefrom.
 8. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reference system comprises a track level surveying station in the range of the running gear arranged between the pair of spaced apart ballast tamping means.
 9. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 8, wherein the track level surveying station is arranged at said running gear.
 10. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 8, wherein the track level surveying station comprises a track measuring carriage fixedly positionable in respect of the track.
 11. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for changing the distance between the ballast tamping means comprises a drive for moving the ballast tamping means trailing the foremost ballast tamping means in respect of the foremost tamping means in the working direction.
 12. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 11, wherein the drive is a hydraulic motor.
 13. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for adjusting the distance of the movement of the trailing ballast tamping means in respect of the foremost tamping means to at least the maximum distance between the ties of the track.
 14. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a drive control means operatively connected to the drive for automatically positioning the spaced apart tamping means at a controlled distance from each other in the working direction.
 15. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 11, wherein the drive is arranged on the frame means portion whereon the trailing ballast tamping means is mounted to move the carrier of the trailing ballast tamping means, the carrier of the foremost ballast tamping means being arranged on the associated frame means portion fixed against longitudinal movement.
 16. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a surface tamping means associated with each of the first-mentioned ballast tamping means for tamping the ballast in the cribs between the ties, each surface tamping means being adjustably positionable in the working direction.
 17. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a surface tamping means arranged between the first-mentioned ballast tamping means for tamping the ballast along the shoulders of the ballast bed laterally outside the ends of the ties.
 18. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the frame means portions constitutes an independent frame mounting one of the ballast tamping means, a track leveling means and a reference means for controlling the leveling of the track, the independent frames being releasably coupled to each other, and comprising an independent drive for each of the independent frames.
 19. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a central operating stand for the operation of all movable means of the apparatus and a central power source for effectuating said operation.
 20. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 19, wherein the central power source is a hydraulic fluid reservoir and circuit connected to all the movable means.
 21. A mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus, the track comprising two rails mounted on ties resting on the ballast and the apparatus being arranged for movement on the rails in a working direction, the apparatus comprising
 22. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 21, wherein the reference means associated with the foremost tamping means comprises a reference beam of radiated energy and the reference means associated with the immediatedly trailing tamping means comprises a reference body.
 23. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 22, wherein the reference body is a tensioned wire.
 24. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 22, wherein the reference body is a rigid portion of the apparatus frame means.
 25. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 21, wherein each of the separate reference means comprises radiated energy emitter means, radiated energy receiver means and a reference beam of said radiated energy between the emitter and receiver means, the reference system further comprises a track measuring carriage fixedly positionable in respect of the track in the range of the running gear arranged between the pair of spaced apart ballast tamping means, the radiated energy emitter and receiver means constituting respective ends of each of the separate reference means, and one of the ends of each of the reference means being mounted on the track measuring carriage.
 26. A mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus, the track comprising two rails mounted on ties resting on the ballast and the apparatus being arranged for movement on the rails in a working direction, the apparatus comprising
 27. The mobile track leveling and ballast tamping apparatus of claim 26, wherein the indicator includes means for automatically controlling the position of at least the foremost ballast tamping means. 